Trolley for current distributing systems



4 Sheets-Sheet, vJ.

H. J. L. FRANK E1- AL TROLLEY FOR CURRENT DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Filed July 28. 1930 ATTORNEY.

1931. H. .1. FR'ANK ET AL 1,319,886

TROLLEY FOR CURRENT DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Filed July 28, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet, 2

o9 7 INVENTORY ",l/wm .d. Zimt mimii;

A TTORNEY.

Aug. 18, 1931. H. J. L, FRANK ET AL 1,319,336

TROLLEY FOR CURRENT DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Filed July 28, 1930 v 4 Sheets-Sheet, 5

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ATTORNEY.

g- 1931- H. J. L. FRANK ET AL 1,819,886

TROLLEY FOR CURRENT DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Filed July 28, 1930 4 sheets-sheet, 4

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v INVENTOR$ A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT orrlcr.

HARRISON J. I. FRANK AND WILLIAM A. HARPER, OEDETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO BULLDOG ELECTRIC PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPO- RATION OF WEST VIRGINIA TROLLEY FOR CURRENT DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Application filed July 28,

, closed in this a plication.

It has been t e practice heretofore in factory installations to install, at conveniently located points, outlets from which current may be taken fromplug-in devices attached to the end of cords, etc. leading from electrically driven tools. Such installations are extremely disadvantageous in certain types of work, especially those where it is necessary for a factory worker,

having an electrically driven tool in his hand to go from one place to another while the tool is operating.

It has been found desirable to provide a trolley system such that the worker can 0 move his electrically driven tool along with the work all the while withdrawing current without interruption, and without creating danger due to snagging or short circuiting of the cords which conduct the current to the tool.

An object of this invention, therefore, is a means from which current can be taken on the run.

A further object is a trolley including. wheels adapted to ride on rails, wheels adapted to ride along bus bars withdrawing current therefrom, and tool supporting means, the current collecting wheels being connected by suitable electrical connectors to a cord which leads to the electrically driven tool supported by the trolley.

A further ob]ect is a current collector trolley which is adapted to ride along and be supported by a bus bar enclosing channel or duct, the current collecting trolley being 1930. Serial No. 471,382.

provided with meansto take current from the bus bars.

A further object is a novel form of trolley tor use with multiphase currents, one which 1s ,so formed as to be incapable of mechanical and electrical connection to the bus bars 1n any but the proper direction, whereby iiow of the current in an improper direction 1s prevented.

A further object is a novel form of trolley, one which is removable from the rails along which it rides only at the end of a rail sec tion, thus forming a permanent, though movable, connection between current collectors and bus bars.

A further object is a trolley provided with sides which may be moved to or from each other and adapted to embrace between them a rail along which the trolley is movable the construction thus permitting removal 0 the trolleys from a rail at any point de sired, the trolleys being provided with means to open or close the sides whereby removal of the trolley from the rail is prevented except when it is the will of the operator to remove it.

A still further object is a novel form of trolleyof the character described in the preceding paragraph wherein a handle means projecting downwardly from the head portion of the trolley is provided with latch means to control movement of the sides of the trolley.

Another object is a novel form of roller contact, one which includes a copper tube or sleeve integrally fastened to the outer race of a conventional or standard roller or ball bearing.

Russugg operator can cause the head portions to approach or retract from each other.

A still further object is a trolley havin separable head portions which are so shape as to enter a duct when in one position and to be incapable of withdrawal therefrom when rotated to another position.

Still further objects are novel forms of current collectin' devices for trolleys, including wheels, s oes, etc.

A still further object is a novel form of trolley, one which has a handle portion projecting from a head portion and offset therefrom, so as to prevent insertion of the trolley head in a duct in any but the proper. directionywhereby flow of current in an 1m-' proper direction is prevented.

A still further ob'ect is a novel form of trolley, one which mcludes a handle portion which projects downwardly from the duct enclosing the bus bars, and which is provided with a universal joint therein and means to lock the joint so as to rigidifythe handle. It is also contemplated to provide the trolley with a means so connected to the separable head portions as to lock the universal joint only when the head po rtions are moved towards each other, that is to say, when removal of the trolley from the duct is desired.

Still other objects will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of trolley as if taken in .the direction of the arrow 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the form of Fig. 1, parts being in section.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a second form of trolley as if taken on the arrow 3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is an elevation view of theform of Fig. 3, parts being in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the form o f Fig. 3, parts being shown as moved to a trolley release position.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a side view of a third form of trolley.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a head portion of the form of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a form of collector contact and is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is another view of the contact of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a side view of a fourth form of trolley, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 11.-

Fig. 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of Fig 11. v

i 15 is a side view, partly in section, of a fth form of trolley.

16 is a section on the line 16-16 of g. 17 shows details of the roller contact. 18 is a section of Fig. 17 on line Balanoer or aemi-pmwnevw type used with chwmwle Referrin to Figs. 1 and 2, one form of trolley is s own as provided with a pair of side plates 20 and 21 joined 'to each other at the bottom by means of a bolt 22 di osed within a sleeve or bushing 23, the atter forming a tool or Pedwyn balancer support. A base late 25, U shaped in cross section oins an is secured to the plates 21 and 20 by means of bolts 26-27, the bolts 22-26-27 formin with the side plates a rigid, noncollaps1 le trolley construction. At the upper ends of the plates 20-21 there are disposed a lurality of roller or ball bearing trolley w eels 29 and 30, there being four in all, they being secured to the side lates by means of the bolts 31 and 32. so disposed on the side plates and projecting thru slots in the latter are a plurality of rollers 33 and 34, the securing means therefor being the straps 35 and 36 which are riveted to the side plates by means of the rivets 37 and 38. Secured to the base late U shaped member 25 are a plurality o insulating blocks 40- 41 u on one of which are disposed a plural-- ity in this case six) roller supports 42, 43 and 44, in each of which is disposed a collector wheel, 46, 47, and 48.

As shown in Fig. 1, insulating block 40 is cut away at 49 whereby roller support 44 and roller 48 are disposed slightly low the level of the correspondin parts 42- 43-46-47 for reasons to be hereafter described. Secured to the blocks 40-41 etc. is a plu and receptacle device not shown which is adapted to receive fuses and a. cord leading to the tool, not shown, and adapted adapted tocause upward movement of part 51 thereby causing the roller supported thereby to be thrust upwardly in constant on agement with the bus bar.

11 use, the trolley of Fig. 1 is' disposed upon a channel 60 which has downwardly extending flanges-61 and three phase bus bars 62-63-64 on its lower surface, the buses being insulated from one another and from the channel in an appropriate manner.

The trolley is slipped on the channel or rail polarizing the trolley and preventing flow of current through the tool fed thereby in an improper direction.

Portable type used with alum/nets In Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, there is shown a second form of trolley, one which is adapted for use with the channel type distributor disclosed in Figs. 1 and 5 but which is removable from the channel or rail at any point, the trolley being provided with separable sides whereby such removal is facilitated. In this form of trolley there is provided a handle which extends upwardly into and is secured to a sleeve 71 which slides on the downwardly extending post 72 welded and secured to .the base 73 of the trolley as indicated at 74. Secured to the base 73 are insulating blocks 75 u on which are secured the collectors 76-7 and 78, these last mentioned parts being similar to the corresponding parts of the form of Figs. 1 and 2. The base 73 is upwardly extended at 83 and 84 to form guides or thrust plates for the slotted side plates 86- 87 upon which are supported the trolle wheels 88-89. The side lates-are hing ly secured to the base p ate by means of the hinges 91 and 92, secured to the base 73 by means of the bolts 93 and 94, the side plates 86-87 extending somewhat below the base plate 73 to provide portions which are joined and constantly attracted to each other by means of the constantly contracting coil spring 95. Upon the handle 70 there is provided an L-shaped latch member 96 secured to a wire 97 which in turn is secured to a latch 98 pivoted on the sleeve 71 at 99 and held down by a spring 100 secured to the sleeve 71 at the point 101.

When a trolley is to be placed upon a channel 103, its sides are separated or moved to the position shown in Fig. 5. The trolley is then laced under and against the channel and handle 70 is pushed upwardly against the bottom of the channel. Sleeve 71 moves upwardly on post 72 and links 104, connecting it with the side .plates 86- posed above the channel 103. The parts are 7 eld in this position by means of the coil s ring which acts exactly in line with the llIlkS 104 and by means of the latch hook 105 which prevents post 72 from moving upwardly in sleeve 71.

When a trolley is to be removed from a channel, its sides are to be separated and this is accomplished as followszLatch member 96 is depressed, forcing hook 105 out of the sleeve 71 and the post 72, permittin relative separation of these parts. The andle 70 and sleeve 71 are pulled downwardly, wheels 88 and 89 resting on the channel 103, and the straight line linkage 104-104 is broken, thus permitting spring 95 to pull the lower portions of side plates 86-87 towards each other and causing their upper portions to separate, thus releasing the trolley from the channel.

It will be observed that the upper edges of side plates 86-87 are protected by fiber sleeves 108 which prevent the metal lates from bridging or engaging the buses 1n the event a trolley is inserted in a channel with its sides closed, or with one side. inside the channel.

It will also be observed from Fig. 5, that the extensions 83-84 of the base 73, by virtue of their diverging lips 85, facilitate the proper mounting of a trolley on a channel, they abutting the lower edges of the channel sides and thus guiding the trolley into its proper position with respect to the channel.

Further, from Fig. 5, it will be seen that bolts 93-94 act as stops against which the hinges 93t-94a1 which connect the side plate extensions 86a-87a. to the links 104 are adapted to abut, this constructionrpreveming outward overtravel of the side plates 86-87 due to the tension of the spring 95.

Further, by virtue of its location, the coil spring constantly exerts a pull on the side plates, tending to hold them in desired position, open or closed.

Portable type-Used with duct A third form of trolley, especially useful with lighter electrical loads, is disclosed best in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. In this form the trolley head is composed of two insulating blocks 130 and 131, block 130 being provided with pins 132 which slide through apertures in the block 131 whereby to guide blocks 130 and 131 with respect to each other. A bow spring 133 secured to block 131 constantl tends to move block 130 away from bloc 131 thus forcing the contacts 134 into engagement with the correspondingly located buses 135 in the duct 136, the contacts 134 preferably being of the collector wheel type previously described. Disposed on the insulating blocks -131 are fuse cli s 138 of three buses one of the buses 135 be-' ing grounded, for obvious reasons. Secured to the under side of block 131 is a handle 140 upon which is pivotally mounted the link or strap 141 which is connected to the block 130 and which passes through an aperture in the block 131. The lower end of link or strap 141 is secured to the pivoted crank 142 provided with a handle 143 whereby when the latter is pressed towards the handle 140, link 141 will pull downwardly, thus causing block 130 to approach block 131 to release the contacts 134 from the bus bars. The trolley is provided with rollers 145 which revent grabbing due to friction between t e collector and the edges of the duct 136.

In Fig. 8 it will be seen that the collector head is elongated in cross section so that it can be inserted in the slot 147 of the duct 136 with its long axis parallel to the long axis of the duct, after which it is rotated 90 degrees so that its long axis will now be transverse of the duct, all of this taking place while handle 143 is held adjacent handle 140 and while head portions 130 and 131 are adjacent each other.

After the trolley has been rotated, handle 143 is released and blocks 130 and 131 move away fromeach other so that the contacts will engage the bus bars for current collectlon.

In this form, the trolley is. supported on the buses themselves, unlike forms previously described wherein the trolleys is supported on a structural steel rail or channel.

Further, contacts 134, which are described, are wheel type contacts, may be replaced by the shoe type contacts 234 disclosed in Figs. 9 and 10, they being secured to the insulating blocks 130 by means of rivets 148.

Further, in order to prevent the current conducting cords which lead from the trolley from becoming entangled and perhaps broken, causing shortcircuiting, etc., fibre tubes 149 are provided, these tubes enclosing the wires which are threaded therethru and thru the aperture 150 (Fig. 7) on the trolley handle.

Universal type-Used with ducts A fourth type of trolley which is also used with ducts for light load, is disclosed in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive. In this form, the separable blocks 130 and 131 of the forms of Figs. 7 and 8 are provided, and block 131 has secured thereto a pair of straps between which is slidable the yoke 161 to which the head 130 is secured by means of the bolt 162. Welded to the sleeve 160 is a support 164 in which is disposed a coil sprin 165 which tends to press upwardly on yol re 161 and maintain head portlons 130 and 131 separated. A pin 166 secured to the lower side of yoke 161 passes through support 164 and is disposed within the ring 168 of the universal joint, the ring being supported on and between straps 160 by trunnions 169 and bolts 170 and on and between the ears- 172 of the tube 173 which forms an extension of the straps 160. On the lower end of the pin 166 is secured a chain or tension member 174, the latter being secured at its lower end to a sleeve or handle member 175 provided with a ivoted latch 176 having a hook 177 dispose within an aperture 178 of the sleeve 173 and held therein by means of the expanding spring 179.

When it is desired to place the trolley in a duct, the rigid trolley, whose parts are in the position shown in Fig. 11, is placed in the duct and rotated. Latch 176 is then pressed by the operators hand, so that hook 177 is withdrawn from aperture 17 8, whereupon spring 165 causes separation of blocks 130, 131 and releases the universal ring 168.

When removal of the trolley is desired, handle 17 5 is pulled downwardly against spring 165 until the latch hook slides far enough down the sleeve 17 3 to engage within aperture 178.

Semi permanent type-Used with ducts A fifth form of trolley, useful with the ducts disclosed in Fig. 7, is disclosed in Figs. 15 and 16. In this form the collector head 180 is provided with contacts 181 similar to those disclosed in Figs. 9 and 10 and with side thrust roller bearings 182 supported on axle forming straps 183 secured to the head by means of the bolts 184. In this form also the axis of the handle 186 is displaced with respect to the axis of the head 180 and of the duct 187, whereby improper rotation of the 'head in the duct is prevented, this form being insertable in the duct only from an end thereof.

While there have been shown five difierent modifications of the trolley, it is obvious that other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, whose scope is to be determined by the appended claims and not to be limited by the foregoing description.

For example, in the form of Fig. 1, the side plates may be joined to each other by means of a handle or extension rather than by means of a tool support. Further, the trolley wheels may be disposed at different points, in the event difi'erent shapes of rails are used. Also instead of having two col- Ill lector wheels for each phase as in Fig. 1, it

is obvious that one or more than two may be fuse clips may be provided on the handle 140 rather than in the head 130-131. Furthermore, the guides 132 may be replaced by other guidin means or may be omitted altogether, if esired. I

Similarly in Figs. 11 to 14, a different universal joint and different forms of locking means may be used, if desired.

In the form of Figs. 15and 16 the handle 186 may be joined to the head 180 on the side thereof rather than at the bottom. Similarly, numerous other modifications may be designed and it is the intention of the applicant to consider all modifications as the full equivalent of those described and claimed.

Further, if desired, a roller contact of the form of Figs. 17 and 18 may be used. In this form a copper tube or sleeve 190 is fastened to the outer race 19 of a standard This form of roller provides a copper to copper contact between the roller and the copper bus bar and is therefore, superior to ordinary steel roller contacts not so equipped.

Now having described the inventlon and the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the said invention is to be limited, not to the specific details herein set forth but only by the scope of the claims which follow:

1. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts between the plates on said support, and trolley supports on and between said side plates, said contacts including collector wheels adapted to rotate against bus bars.

2. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts between the plates on said support, and trolley supports on and between said side plates, said contacts including pivotally mounted collector wheels provided with springs adapted to urge said wheels against bus bars.

3. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts between the plates on said support, and trolley supports "on and between said s1de plates, sald side plates being joined to each other by a means which rovides a tool sup ort.

4. A current co lecting trolley inc uding a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts between the plates on said support, and trolley supports on and between said s1de plates,

said side plates being readily movable away from each other whereby said trolley may be removed from the current distributor between them to which it is applied.

5. A current collecting trolley including a palr of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said side plates, the collector being provided with fuse clips on said contact support wheireby fuses may be mounted on said suppor 6. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates being separablefrom each other whereby said trolley may be removed from the current distributor to which it ,is applied, said contact support being provided with means to guide and limit movement of said plates.

7. For use with a current distributor which includes a plurality of bus bars separated from each other, a current collector lncluding a pair of contact supports mounted so as to move towards and away from each other and adapted, when separated, to cause the contacts supported thereby to engage said bus bars, means tending to effect separation of said supports, and means to cause said support to approach each other.

8. For use with a current distributor which includes a plurality of bus bars separated from each other, a current collector including a pair of contact supports mounted so as to move towards and away from each other and adapted, when separated, to cause to the width of said slot, whereby said distributor may be inserted through said distributor only when its long dimension is parallel to the long dimension of said distributor having an elongated insertion slot in one surface, a current. collector including a head ortion whose length is ap roximately equa to the width of said distributor and whose width is approximately ual to the width of said slot, whereby said istributor may be inserted through said distributor only when its long dimension is arallel to the long dimension of said distri utcr and whereby said collector will remain in said distributor only when it has been rotated so that its long dimension is transverse to the long dimension of the distributor, the collector being provided'with a handle to facilitate insertlon and rotation of the head portion, said handle being oifset from said head portion whereby the latter may be rotated in one direction only.

11. In a current collector, contact supports movable towards and away from each other, a bow spring between said su ports constantly tending to separate them iiom each other, and a manually operable means to cause said supports to approach each other.

12. A current collector including contact supports movable to. and from each other and a handle, said handle being provided with a universal joint and with means to move said contact supports towards each other.

13. Acurrent collector including contact supports movable to and from each other and a handle, said handle being provided with a universal joint, with means to move said contact supports towards each other, and with means to lock said joint to rigidity said handle. V

14. A current collector including contact supports movable to and from each other and a handle, said handle being provided with a universal joint, with means to move said contact supports towards each other, and with means to lock said joint to rigidity said handle, said locking means being so connected to said support moving means that actuation of the latter locks said joint.

15. A current collector including contact supports movable to and from each other and a handle, said handle being provided with a universal joint, with means to move said contact supports towards "each other, and with means to lock said joint to rigidify said handle, said locking means being so connected to said support moving means that actuation of the latter locks said joint, the handle being provided with a latch which maintains the joint unlocked and whiplh permits the supports to remain separate Q 16. A current collecting trolley including a .pair of side plates, a contact support aecured to and between said 7 v between the plates on sai support and trolley supports on and betweensai side plates, said contacts including spring urged collector wheels'adapted to rotate against bus bars.

17. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts between the plates on said support, and trolley supports on and between said side plates said contacts including pivotally mounted collector wheels.

. 18. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts between the plates on said support, and trolley supports including trolle wheels on and between said sideplates an mounted so as to rotate on a horizontal axis.

19. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side lates, a contact support secured to and tween said plates, contact wheels between the plates on said support, and trolley wheels on andbetween said side plates, said side plates being joined to each other by a means which provides a tool support, said contact wheels being adapted to rotate against bus bars.

20. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts between the plates on said support and trolley supports on and between said side plates,

said contacts including alined pairs of colljector wheels adaptedto rotate against bus' ars.

21. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said side plates, certain of said contacts being displaced with respect to the remaini contacts, whereby improper application 2% said collector to a current distributor is prevented.

22. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support so cured to and between said plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates belng separable from each other whereby said trolley may be removed from the current distributor to which it is applied, there bein spring means tending to separate said si e plates from each other, the collector being rovided with means to permit separation 0 said plate.

23. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said-plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said lates, contacts 7 side plates, said side plates being separable from each other whereby said trolley may be removed from the current distributor to which it is applied there being spring means tending to separate said side plates from each other, the collector being provided with means to permit separation of said plate, said means including a latch device mounted upon a handle portion of said collector.

24. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support se-- cured to and between said plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates being separable from each other whereby said trolley may be removed from the current distributor to which it is applied, there being spring means tending to separate said side plates from each other, the collector being provided with means to permit separation of said plate, said means including toggle joints adapted to be broken for plate separation. V

25. For use with a current distributor which includes a plurality of bus bars separated from each other, a current collector including a pair of contact supports mounted so as to move towards and away from each other and adapted, when separated,to cause the contacts supported thereby to engage said bus bars, and adapted, when adjacent each other to permit removal of the collector from said distributor, meanstending to effect separation of said supports, and means to cause said supports to approach each other.

26. A current collector including a pair of metallic side plates between which a current distributor is to be disposed, and insulators on the edges of said side plates adapted to prevent engagement of said side plates with said distributor.

27. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates having insulator coverings on their upper edges.

HARRISON J. L. FRANK. WILLIAM A. HARPER. 

